Texas Tech College of Human Sciences Receives Endowed Professorship
April 15 , 2005
LUBBOCK–The Texas Tech College of Human Sciences today announced the creation of the $500,000 James and Kailee Young Regents Endowed Professorship to benefit the Restaurant, Hotel and Institutional Management Program.
The endowment will enable the college to recruit a nationally recognized faculty member who will focus on the advancement of both domestic and international hospitality research and education.
“Our Restaurant, Hotel and Institutional Management Program is well known for producing quality graduates,” said Linda Hoover, dean of the College of Human Sciences. “James Young has a special interest in hospitality research and education and with this professorship we will be able to expand our international efforts.”
Young, a native of Taiwan, is the chairman and chief executive officer of Food Concepts International Inc. The Lubbock-based company owns and operates the 22 Abuelo’s restaurants in eight states. He established his first restaurant, Chinese Kitchen, in 1975, while a graduate student in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Texas Tech.
“I came to Lubbock as a student,” said Young. “I started my restaurant and decided to move in that direction rather than finish my graduate degree. I have stayed in this community for more than 30 years now. This is my home. Lubbock has given me many opportunities. I believe that my gift to the university will serve as a way for me to say thank you to the whole community.”
The professorship is one of several established under the Regents Faculty Endowment Program. Gifts of $250,000 are matched with existing university funds to create named professorships. The program is part of the university’s goal of recruiting and retaining quality faculty members